Greenville Drone, LLC , Simpsonville, SC

- Section 333 Exemption Petition

May 18, 2015 U. S. Department of Transportation Docket Management System 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, DC 20590 Re: Exemption Request Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act of the Federal Aviation Regulations from 14 C.F.R. 45.23(b); 14 C.F.R. Part 21; 14 C.F.R. 61.113(a)&(b); 91.7(a); 91.9(b) (2); 91.103(b); 91.109; 119.121; 91.151(a); 91.203(a)&(b); 91.405(a); 91.407(a) (1 ); 91.409(a) (2); 91.417(a)&(b)

Dear Sir or Madam: I Chad Cody, Owner and operator of Greenville Drone, LLC, am writing pursuant to the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 and the procedures contained within 14 C.F.R. 11, to request that Greenvi lle Drone, LLC , owner and operator of small unmanned aircraft, be exempted from the Federal Aviation Regulations (“FARs”) listed below so that Greenville Drone, may operate small ultra light weight unmanned aircraft system (“UAS”) commercially in airspace regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”). The requested exemption would permit the operation of small, unmanned and UAV’s under controlled conditions in airspace that is 1) limited 2) predetermined 3) Controlled as to access.

As described herein, Greenville Drone, LLC has over 30 + years of experience with flying, building and safely operating recreational RC airplanes and helicopters. Greenville Drone LLC, has studied, built and repaired small and large commercial UAV’s over the past 17 months. I have a high level of knowledge and respect for industry along with safety . My sole UAV is the DJI Inspire 1. My choice for this UAV is the advanced safety systems that the DJI Inspire offers and with the exclusive set up with the combined flig ht systems , Flight Data Log systems and camera system, which allows safe, use for aerial videography/cinematography. This will enhance academic community awareness for those individuals and companies unfamiliar with the geographical layout of the Upstate South Carolina area, and augment real estate listing videos; following exempti on and approval by the FAA. Thereby enhancing their academic research experience for the Upstate South Carolina area.Having flown small RC airplanes and helicopters for over ten (30) years without

incident. Committed to safety with each flight. Greenvi lle Drone, LLC , exemption request would permit operation of ultra lightweight , unmanned (piloted by remote control) and comparatively inexpensive UAS(s) in tightly controlled and limited airspace. Predetermined in areas away from general public, airports, heliports and vehicular traffic for community videos, and within property boundaries for individual homeowner real estate listing videos/photos. Currently, unmonitored amateur hobbyists with no safety plan or controls in place to prevent catastrophe legall y operate similar lightweight, remote controlled UAS’s

. I have developed my own personal operating procedures that I believe far exceeds the standards in place at this time. My objective is to prevent public hazards and well as manned aircraft / catastrophe

. This will act to further provide safe protocols exclusive to lightweight UAS's specific to real estate video and photography usage as Greenville Drone, LLC, record flight data and other information gained through permitted flight operations to share with the FAA through any required FAA reports to assist with future protocol and safety regulation. The name and address of the applicant is: Greenville Drone, LLC Attn: Chad T Cody Email ccody@greenvilledrone.com 2 Dapple Grey Ct Simpsonville, SC 29680 864

-616

-0316 Regulations from which the exemption is requested: 14 C.F.R. Part 21 14 C

. F

. R. 45

. 23 (b) 14 CFR 61.113(a); 14 C.F

. R. 91

. 7 (a) 14 C.F.R. 91.9 (b) (2) 14 C.F

. R. 91

. 103 14 C

. F.R. 91.109 14 C

. F.R. 91.119 14 C

. F

. R. 91

. 121 14 C.F.R. 91

. 151 (a) 14 C.F.R. 91

. 203 (a) & (b) 14 C.F.R. 91.405 (a)14 C.F.R. 407 (a) (1)

14 C.F.R. 409 (a) (2) 14 C.F.R. 417 (a) & (b)

This exemption application is expressly submitted to fulfill Congress' goal in passing Section 333(a) through (c) of the Reform Act. This law directs the Secretary of Transportation to consider whether certain unmanned aircraft systems may operate safely in the national airspace system (NAS) before completion of the rulemaking required under Section 332 of the Reform Act. In making this determination, the Secretary is required to determ i ne which types of UAV do not create a hazard to users of the NAS or the public or pose a threat to national security in light of the following : • The UAV size , weight , speed , and operational capability; • Operation of the UAV i n close proximity to airports and populated areas ; and • Operation of the UAV within visual line of sight of the operator Reform Act§ 333(a). Lastly, if the Secretary determines that such vehicles "may operate safely in the national airspace system, the Secretary shall establish requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft in the national airspace system ." Applicant interprets this provision to place the duty on the Administrator to not only process applications for exemptions under section 333, but for the Administrator to craft conditions for the safe operation of the UAS , if it should be determined that the conditions set forth herein do not fulfill the statutory requirements for approval. The Federal Aviation Act expressly grants the FAA the authority to issue exemptions. This statutory authority by its terms includes exempting civil aircraft, as the term is defined under §401 01 of the Act that includes UAV , from the requirement that all civil aircraft must have a current airworthiness certificate

. The Administrator may grant an exemption from a requirement of a regulation prescribed under subsection (a) or (b) of this section or any sections 44702

- 44716 of this title if the Administrator finds the exemption i n the public interest. 49 U

. S

. C

. §44701(f) See also 49 USC §44711(a) ; 49 USC §44704 ; 14 CFR §91

. 203(a) (1)

. Greenville Drone’s UAV’s consist of manufacturer built 4 engine multirotor craft , weighing 55 or fewer lbs. including payload

. They operate , under normal conditions , at a speed of no more than 50 knots and have the capability to hover, and move in the vertical and horizontal plane simultaneously. They will operate only in line of sight and will operate only within a small controlled area describedin the Confidential Operations Procedures , attached as Exhibit A (hereinafter

"Procedures" ) Such operations will insure that the UAV will " not create a hazard to users of the national airspace system or the public.'' Applicant submits this Procedure as a Confidential and Proprietary document under 14 CFR 11

. 35 (b) as the entire Procedures contains proprietary information that the applicant has not and will not share with others. The Procedures contains operating condi tions and procedures that are not available to the publ i c and are protected from release under the Freedom of Information Act 5 USC 552 et.seq

. Given the small size of the UAV’s involved and the restricted controlled environment within which they will operate , the applicant falls squarely within that zone of safety (an equivalent level of safety) in which Congress envisioned that the FAA must, by exemption , allow commercial operations of UAV’s to commence immediately. Also due to the size of the UAV’s and t he controlled areas i n which the relevant UAV’s will operate , approval of the application presents no national security issue

. Given the following , the grant of the requested exemptions is clearly in the public interest: • Clear direction in Section 333 of the Reform Act, the authority contained in the Federal Aviation Act , as amended • The level of safety surrounding the proposed operations that implement the use of HD and thermal imagining, and the significant public benefit • Innovative reductions in physical dangers of personnel climbing towers (e.g., thermal imaging of active wasp/hornet nests, electrical “hot spots”...) and/or the use of high

- rise heavy equipment thus reduced emissions associated with allowing UAV’s operations. Accordingly, the appl icant respectfully requests that the FAA grant the requested exemption without delay

. AIRCRAFT AND EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY The applicant proposes that the exemption requested herein apply to civil aircraft that have the characteristics and that operate with the limitations listed herein

. These limitations provide for an exceptional level of safety to operations. These limitations and conditions to which Greenville Drone agrees to be bound when conducting commercial operations under an FAA issued exemption include : DJI Inspire 1 unmanned aircraft is designed to hover in place via GPS and operate in less than a 13 knot (15 mph) wind. For safety, stability and fear of financial loss, I will not fly in winds exceeding 13 knot (15 mph).Built in safety systems include a GPS mode that allows my UAS to hover in place

when radio controls are released. With three programmable flights modes to choose from, I utilize the Safe Mode for aerial videography/photography. This is the safest, most reliable and stable mode to prevent accident and hazard. Wh en pilot communication is lost UAS is designed to slowly descend to point of take off. No UAS operations near airports, Hospitals nor Police heliports, and do not operate near areas where general public is wi thin fifty to one hundred (50

- 100) yards depending on location, conditions and weather. I am constantly on alert for any manned aircraft (Police/Medical helicopters, etc.) and prepared to land/abort immediately to the nearest and safest ground point shou ld a manned aircraft approach my location or If I suspect manned aircraft may approach near my location. My UAS is capable of vertical and horizontal operations, and is flown only within my line of sight of my location, as the remote control pilot. Utilizing battery power rather than combustible fuels, flights generally last between ten (10) to fifteen (15) minutes, with an altitude under three hundred (300) feet

 DJI Inspire UAS weighs less than 7 pounds complete with gimbal and high resolution ca mera system including battery system;

 I only operate my UAS below 350 feet (well within the 400 foot permissible ceiling set by the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012);

 My UAS only operates for 10

- 15 minutes per flight;

 I land my UAS prior to ma nufacturer recommended minimum level of battery power;

 I pilot my UAS through remote control only by line of sight, and with ground control spotter if and when needed for additional safety;

 My UAS has GPS a flight safety feature whereby it hovers and t hen slowly landsif communication with the remote control pilot is lost;

 I actively analyze flight data and other sources of information to constantly update and enhance safety protocols;

 I only operate in reasonably safe environment that are strictly controlled, are away from power lines, elevated lights, airports and actively populated areas;

 I conduct extensive pre

-flight inspections and protocol, during which safety carries primary importance;

 I always obtain all necessary permissions prior to o peration; and, I have procedures in place to abort flights in the event of safety breaches or potential danger.

**14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart H: A irw** **orthiness Certificates 14 C.F.R. §91.203 (a) (1)**  Subpart H, entitled Airworthiness Certificates, establishes the procedural requirements for the issuance of airworthiness certificates as required by FAR §91

. 203 (a) (1)

. Given the size and limited operating area associated with the aircraft to be utilized by the Applicant, an exemption from Part 21 Subpart H meets the requirements of an equivalent level of safety under Part 11 and Section 333 of the Reform Act. The Federal Aviation Act (49 U.S.C.§44701 (f)) and Section 333 of the Reform Act both authorize the FAA to exempt aircraft from the requirement for an airworthiness certificate, upon consideration of the size, weight, speed, operational capability, and proximity to airports and populated areas of the particular UAV

. In all cases, an analysis of these criteri a demonstrates that the UAV operated without an airworthiness certificate , in the restricted environment and under the conditions proposed will be at least as safe, or safer, than a conventional aircraft (fixed wing or rotorcraft) operating with an airworthiness certificate without the restrictions and conditions proposed.The UAV’s to be operated hereunder is less than 55 lbs

. fully loaded, carries

neither a pilot nor passenger, carries no explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels, and operates exclus ively within a controlled area as set out in the Procedures

. Unlike other civil aircraft, operations under this exemption will be tightly controlled and monitored by the operator, pursuant to the Procedures requirements

. Lastly, application of these same criteria demonstrates that there is no credible threat to national security posed by the UAV, due to its size, speed of operation, location of operation , lack of explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels, and inability to carry a substantial external lo ad. **14 C.F.R. §91.7(a): Civil aircraft airworthiness.** The regulation requires that no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it is in airworthy condition. As there will be no airworthiness certificate issued for the aircraft, should this exemption be granted, no FAA regulatory standard will exist for determining airworthiness. Given the size of the aircraft and the requirements contained in the Procedures for maintenance and use of safety checklists prior to each flight, an equivalent level of safety will be provided.

**14 C.F.R. § 91.9 (b) (2): Civil Ai**  **rcraft Flight Manual in the A ircraft.**  Section 91

. 9(b)(2) provides : No person may operate a U.S.

- registered civil aircraft... (2) For which an Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual is not required by §21.5 of this chapter, unless there is available in the aircraft a current approved airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual, approved manual material, markings, and placards, or any combination thereof. The UAV, given its size and configuration has no ability or place to carry such a flight manual on the aircraft , not only because there is no pilot on board , but because there is no room or capacity to carry such an item on the aircraft

. The equ ivalent level of safety will be maintained by keeping the flight manual at the ground control point where the operator flying the UAV will have immed i ate access to it. The FAA has issued the following exemptions to this regulation : Exemption Nos

. 8607, 8737, 8738 , 9299, 9299A, 9565 , 95658, 10167 , 10167A, 10602 , 32827, and 10700

. **14 C.F.R. § 91.103: Preflight action**This regulation requires each operator to take certain actions before flight to

insure the safety of flight. As FAA approved rotorcraft flight manuals will not be provided for the aircraft an exemption will be needed

. An equivalent level of safety will be provided as set forth in Procedures. The operator will take all actions including reviewing weather, flight battery requirements, landing and takeoff di stances and aircraft performance data before initiation of flight. **14 C.F.R. §91.109: Flight instruction :**  Section 91.103 provides that no person may operate a civil aircraft (except a manned free balloon) that is being used for flight instruction unless that aircraft has fully functioning dual controls. UAV’s and remotely piloted aircraft, by their design do not have fully functional dual controls

. Flight control is accomplished through the use of a control box that communicates with the aircraft via radio communications

. The FAA has approved exemptions for flight training without fully functional dual contro ls for a number of aircraft and for flight instruction in experimental aircraft

. See Exemption Nos.5778K & 9862A. The equivalent level of safety provided by the fact that neither a pilot nor passengers will be carried in the aircraft and by the size and sp eed of the aircraft

. **14 C.F**

**. R. §91.119: Minimum safe altitudes**  Section 91.119 establishes safe altitudes for operation of civil aircraft

. Section 91.119 (d) allows helicopters to be operated at less than the minimums prescribed, provided the person operating the helicopter complies with any route or altitudes prescribed for helicopters by the FAA. As this exemption is for a UAV that is a helicopter and the exemption requests authority to operate at altitudes up to 400 AGL, an exemption may be needed to a llow such operations. As set forth herein , except for the limited conditions stated in the Procedures , the UAV will never operate at higher than 400 AGL. The equivalent level of safety will be achieved given the size, we i ght, and speed of the UAV as well as the location where it is operated. In addition, the low

altitude operations of the UAV will ensure separation between these small

- UAS operations and the operations of conventional aircraft that must comply with Section 91.119

. **14 C.F.R. §91.121 A ltimet** **er Settings** This regulation requires each person operating an aircraft to maintain cruising altitude by reference to an altimeter that is set "

. .. to the elevation of thedeparture airport or an appropriate altimeter setting available before departure. "

As the UAV may not have a barometric altimeter, but instead a GPS altitude read out , an exemption may be needed

. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by the operator, pursuant to the Procedures and Safety Check list, confirming the altitude of the launch site shown on the GPS altitude indicator before flight. **14 C.F.R. § 91.151(a): Fuel Requirements for Flight in VFR Conditions** Section 91

. 151 (a) prohibits an individual from beg i nning " a flight in an a i rplane under VFR conditions unless (cons idering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing , and , assuming normal cruising speed

- (1) During the day, to fly after that for at least 30 minutes; or (2) At night, to fly after that for at least 45 minutes

. " In ideal conditions the battery powering the UAV provides approximately 40 minutes of powered flight. To meet the 30

- minute reserve requirement in 14 CFR §91

. 151, UAV flights would be limited to approximately 10 minutes in length

. G iven the limitations on the UAV's proposed flight area and the location of its proposed operations within a predetermined area, a longer time frame for flight in daylight or night VFR conditions is reasonable

. Applicant believes that an exemption from 1 4 CF R §91

. 151 (a) falls within the scope of p rior exemptions. See Exemption 10673 (allowing Lockheed Martin Corporation to operate without compliance with FAR 91.151 (a))

. Operating the small UAS , in a tightly controlled area, with less than 30 minutes of res erve fuel, does not engender the type of risks that Section 91

. 151 (a) was intended to alleviate given the size and speed of the small UAS

. Additionally , limiting UAV flights to 10 minutes would greatly reduce the utility for which the exemption will be granted

. Applicant believes that an equivalent level of safety can be achieved by limiting flights to 15 minutes or 15% of battery power whichever happens first. This restriction would be more than adequate to return the UAV to its planned landing zone from anywhere in its limited operating area

. Similar exemptions have been granted to other operations , including Exemptions 2689F , 5745, 10673 , and 10808.
**14 C.F.R. §91.203 (a) and (b): Carry ing Civil A** **ircraft Certification and Registration**  The regulatio n provides in pertinent part : (a) Except as provided in § 91

. 715, no pe rson may operate a civil aircraft unless it has within it the following :(1) An appropriate and current airworthiness certificate.

(b) No person may operate a civil aircraft unless the airworthiness certificate required by paragraph (a) of this section or a special flight authorization issued under §91.715 is displayed at the cabin or cockpit entrance so that it is legible to passengers or crew

. The UAV fully loaded weighs no more than 55 lbs and is operated without an on board pilot. As such , there is no ability or place to carry certification and registration documents or to display them on the UAV. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by keeping these documents at the ground control point where the operator flying the UAV will have immediate access to them , to the extent they are applicable to the UAV

. The FAA has issued numerous exemptions to this regulation

. A representative sample of other exceptions includes Exemption Nos. 9565, 9665, 9789 , 9789A, 9797, 9797A, 9816A , and 10700. **14 C.F.R. §91.405 (a); 407 (a) (1); 409** (a) **(2); 417(a) & (b): Maintenance Inspections**  These regulations require that an aircraft operator or owner "shall have that aircraft inspected as prescribed in subpart E of this part and shall between required inspections, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section , have discrepancies repaired as prescribed in part 43 of this chapter." and others shall inspect or maintain the aircraft in compliance with Part 43. Given that these section and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate, these sections will not apply to the applicant. The operator will accomplish maintenance pursuant to the flight manual and operating handbook as referenced in the Procedures. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved because these small UAV’s are very limited in size and will carry a small payload and operate only in controlled areas for limited periods of time. If mechanical issues arise the UAV can land immediately and will be operating from no higher than 400 feet AGL

. As provided in the Procedures, the operator will ensure that the UAV is in working order prior to initiating flight, perform required maintenance , and keep a log of any maintenance performed

. Moreover, the operator is the person most familiar with the aircraft and best suited to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition to provide the equivalent level of safety

. Pursuant to 14 C.F

. R. Part 11 , the following su mmary is provided for publication in the Federal Register, should it be determined that publication is needed: Applicant seeks an exemption from the following rules:14 C

. F.R. §21, subpart H ; 14 C.F

. R 45.23(b) ; 14 C.F.R. §§ 61

. 113(a) & (b) ;

91.7(a); 91.9 (b) (2); 91.103(b); 91

. 109; 91.119; 91.121; 91

. 151(a); 91

. 203(a) and (b); 91.405 (a) ; 91.407 (a) (1) ; 91.409 (a) (2); 91.409 (a) (2) and 91.417 (a) & (b) to operate commercially a small unmanned vehicle (551bs or less) for the purpose of inspection, monito ring , mapping and photographing attached equipment and engineering studies involving communication tower operations. Approval of exemptions allowing commercial operations of UAV’s will create a level of safety by reducing risk . For example: Conventional tower structure inspections and associated tasks involve extreme risks to personnel physically climbing such structures and/or utilizing high rise equipment both of which create numerous and extreme risk to such personnel. In contrast , a UAV weighing fewer than 55 lbs. and powered by batteries eliminates virtually all of that risk. The UAV will carry no passengers or crew and, therefore, will not expose personnel to any of the risks described above. The operation of small UAV’s , weighing less than 55 lbs

. , conducted in the strict conditions outlined above, will provide a level of safety supporting the grant of the exemptions requested herein , including exempting the applicant from the requirements of Part 21 and allowing commercial operations. These lightwe ight aircraft operate at slow speeds, close to the ground , and in a controlled environment. All flights will occur over private or controlled access property with the property owner's prior consent and knowledge

. The granting of this exemption request will provide innovative safety operations. Satisfaction of the criteria provided in Section 333 of the Reform Act of 2012

-- size, weight, speed, operating capabilities, proximity to airports and populated areas and operation within visual line of sight an d national security

- provide more than adequate justification for the grant of the requested exemptions allowing commercial operation of applicant's UAV in and pursuant to the Procedures appended hereto

. Respectfully, Greenville Drone, LLC 2 Dapple Gray Ct Simpsonville, SC 29680